Celia
Girl name · #774 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Celia? In official American birth records, Celia has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Celia ranks #774 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 351 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #852, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,128 girls born in 2025 was named Celia.
The 145-year story
Celia first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 90 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1915, when 853 girls were named Celia — good for #195 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Celia per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Celia against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Celia in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Celia is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Celia will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Celia is most common
Geography matters for names, and Celia is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Celia is most common in SC (0.5 per 1,000), MI (0.5 per 1,000), MA (0.5 per 1,000), NJ (0.4 per 1,000), PA (0.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.3 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Celia is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Celia
Statistically, parents drawn to Celia tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Cecelia, Ofelia, Alma, Eulalia, and Carmela.
CeceliaOfeliaAlmaEulaliaCarmelaPearlViolaMollie
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Celia | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 351 | #774 |
| 2024 | 383 | #735 |
| 2023 | 332 | #828 |
| 2022 | 323 | #861 |
| 2021 | 358 | #791 |
| 2020 | 345 | #789 |
| 2019 | 308 | #869 |
| 2018 | 287 | #932 |
| 2017 | 324 | #838 |
| 2016 | 344 | #835 |
| 2015 | 328 | #852 |
| 2014 | 356 | #787 |
| 2013 | 355 | #768 |
| 2012 | 376 | #740 |
| 2011 | 372 | #741 |
| 2010 | 375 | #744 |
| 2009 | 377 | #753 |
| 2008 | 390 | #756 |
| 2007 | 370 | #779 |
| 2006 | 406 | #699 |
| 2005 | 410 | #678 |
| 2004 | 406 | #676 |
| 2003 | 406 | #652 |
| 2002 | 388 | #652 |
| 2001 | 424 | #594 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Celia?
In official American birth records, the name Celia first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 90 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Celia a popular girl name?
Celia ranked #774 among girls in 2025 with 351 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #852.
When was the name Celia most popular?
Celia peaked in 1915, when 853 American girls received the name (ranked #195 that year). Since 1915 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Celia?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,128 newborn American girls was named Celia. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.